A thank-you page for those people who continue to provide stimulation and inspiration of all sorts.
But first! A shout-out to all my friends, who in their badassery have helped me become the righteous dude I want to be. And the fam, what a motley crue we are…
For music: there are so many people to mention, so if you want a larger list, friend me on facebook. It’s all there. The few that really stick out, though:
Hakan Hardenberger, for being a godsend for the trumpet and musical progress.
San Francisco Symphony, for knowing how to be a remarkable ensemble but also a communicative one. Thanks for helping to usher in art music and make it accessible for the 21st century public.
Radiohead, for bridging that classical-popular gap and staying unyieldingly true to art and innovation in your music. You rock. Pun intended.
In the world of science and letters (again, not at all a comprehensive list)
Daniel Levitin, for in your books and research helping me discover a potential career path.
Daniel Dennett, for being at once a philosopher and scientist of the mind, a rarity, but a necessity for the scientific investigation of consciousness.
Nancy Andreasen, for writing the book which sparked my interest in the mind (check out The Creating Brain–a tour de force).
Rebecca Saxe & Allan Adams, for representing all of the values of scientists and human beings I respect and admire: profound curiosity for the workings of our world (and universe, and beyond), assiduous dedication, and deep kindness and empathy.
Dan Millman, for an exquisite philosophy of life that has allowed me to get in touch with myself in ways I previously dreamed of.
E.O. Wilson, For taking C.P. Snow one step further and being that innovative scientist with a knack for elegant writing and lucid explanation of what it means to cross disciplines for the betterment of intellectual inquiry.
-Constantly updated-